The US has delivered two F-16V Block 70 fighter jets to Taiwan, as the island strengthens its defences against the threat of a possible attack by China.
The aircraft, built by Lockheed Martin, are the first of 66 jets covered by an $8 billion deal approved during Donald Trump’s first term as president. They arrived on Friday after months of delays and repeated demands from Beijing for Washington to stop supplying arms to Taiwan.
The jets flew via Hawaii and Guam before landing at noon local time. Their arrival came a week after Mr Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington.
Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo indicated that further deliveries would follow. “Of course we won’t only have delivered these two [F-16Vs] by the end of the year,” he said.
The delivery comes as concern grows in Taiwan over the Trump administration’s commitment to continuing to arm the island, which Beijing claims as its own territory despite it being governed democratically.
US law requires Washington to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, although the two sides do not have formal diplomatic relations.
Mr Trump said in May, after meeting Mr Xi in Beijing, that he was holding back a new $14 billion arms package for Taiwan. He approved an $11 billion package in December 2025.
Washington has said there has been no change in its policy. A State Department spokesperson said: “We continue standing with friends and allies across the Indo-Pacific to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values — that includes Taiwan.”
The F-16Vs were upgraded in 2023 with advanced avionics, weapons and radar systems intended to improve their ability to counter China’s air force, including its J-20 stealth fighters.
However, the US has not agreed to provide Taiwan with its most advanced fighter aircraft, including the F-22 or F-35.
